Don't Resist: Try Lamb

Lamb: the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. The title alone begs the question: how can one resist?

Well, this one did — and for much, much too long. Don't make the same mistake I did: start reading now. In fact, skip the review, read the book, then come back and see if you agree.

Now that it's just us smart people who already read the book... wasn't Christopher Moore's book cool?

Plus, it answers the question of where Jeffrey Small got his ideas.

Everyone wonders how Jesus Christ spent his youth, where he got his middle name, how he became such a Lamb of God. Also, did he learn judo? Could he teach an elephant yoga? And why did he walk straight into the lion's den?

This book is Christopher Moore at his best — but it's not typical Moore. Usually he has me rolling on the floor in side-splitting laughter — and with this book, from time to time, I had to pick myself up off the floor. But not as often as I expected. Thank heavens. (So to speak.)

I liked all of the characters. Joshua needed a friend like Biff, and Biff needed friends like Maggie, Bartholomew, Joy... all likeable, all plausible. I still don't get how Joshua learned everything he learned, but I think Moore put together the book for a couple of lines. (You'll know them when you see them.)

The story was interesting, compelling and surprising. Even those who are familiar with the Gospels will find a few surprises here. I never will think of Mary's washing of Jesus' feet with oils the same way. Meeting each of the disciples as individuals with his own quirks, seeing how women fit into Joshua's original program, made me want to do what Newsweek suggested (and Thomas Jefferson already did): listen to the words of the Son.

I enjoyed this book, and I recommend it to anyone inclined to read.